The Kansas City Chiefs were missing a lot of firepower when they took the field for the 2023 regular season kickoff on Thursday Night Football. Hosting the Detroit Lions as the defending Super Bowl champions, the Chiefs came out flat and were upset by the Lions, who took full advantage of the opportunity presented to them.
One of the stars that the Chiefs were missing in Week 1 was tight end Travis Kelce. Kelce suffered a hyper-extended knee during practice in preparation for the game. While he and the team did everything to get him ready, he ultimately sat the game out.
There was originally worry that Kelce’s injury was much more serious and he would miss an extended period of time. However, based on the update provided by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network from Kansas City head coach Andy Reid, there is a chance Kelce is back on the field this week.
As Rapoport shared, the plan is for Kelce to practice this week, albeit in a limited capacity. He is making his way back from a deep bone bruise, but that update at least leaves the possibility open that he will return to travel and play with the team against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Reid also offered an update on the other star the Chiefs missed in Week 1, defensive tackle Chris Jones. Jones was holding out for a contract extension and did not suit up, but an amended deal was eventually agreed to.
Jones racked up about $2 million in fines and skipped a $1.1 million game check as a result of the time he was away. He agreed to a one-year deal with the chance to earn up to $25 million with incentives.
It is certainly a less-than-ideal outcome for Jones, who was hoping to land a long-term extension this offseason. But, the one positive to come out of it is that he likely won’t be facing a franchise tag in 2024, meaning he will be arguably the best player available on the open market next offseason.
